Enable installing APKs (Android app install files) from outside of the Google Play Store. To do this, go to the "Settings" app, scroll down to "Security", and tick "Unknown sources". Click OK on the popup alert.

Click "Get" and then it will ask you to sign in. Click the "Create New Apple ID" option and choose to register with a new e-mail address that is not attached to any Apple accounts yet.

When it asks for you to fill out info you need to be sure to have "None" checked in payment options. The rest of the information can be whatever you wish except for the "Postal Code." This needs to be an official code and we used "1010047." Your phone number can be your own, as well.

Agree with everything and finish the account setup. Now you should be able to enter your passcode and start installing the game!

Pre-registration for North American version of Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is now open in the Google Play store. The size of the download will be 1.1 GB.

The Google Play store features a few screenshots of the game, including a first look at new outfits based on Disney's latest film Zootopia.

Google Play also provided a summary of Kingdom Hearts Unchained and its features:

Adventure across Disney’s magical and wondrous worlds in the first mobile app for the beloved KINGDOM HEARTS series!

KINGDOM HEARTS is a tale about Light and Friendship overcoming the power of Darkness. Over the last 15 years, millions of fans have experienced the epic tale of King Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and more than 100 Disney characters joining forces with Sora, Keyblade warriors, and heroes from Square Enix’s popular FINAL FANTASY video game series as they battle to protect their friends and save all worlds from the Heartless.

Become a hero at the very beginning of the KINGDOM HEARTS story in the era of the Lost Masters. Gather LUX—a mysterious form of light—and fight the Heartless as you explore beautiful Disney worlds. Meet familiar faces, strengthen yourself and your Keyblades!

- Battle against the Heartless using your legendary Keyblades. Tap to attack, swipe to hit multiple enemies, and flick medals to unleash their special abilities.- Strategize to defeat enemies in fewer turns for greater rewards by using your special attacks and finding the right balance of power, magic, and speed medals.- Customize your hero by changing your avatar’s outfits to match your style of fashion. Be on the lookout for outfits based upon popular Disney, FINAL FANTASY and KINGDOM HEARTS characters, as well as seasonal clothing!- Collect and evolve hundreds of character medals, which contain the harnessed power of popular Disney and FINAL FANTASY heroes and villains.- Team up with friends to challenge and take down monstrous Heartless raid bosses for even greater rewards!- Survive the challenges in the Olympus Coliseum, where the strongest heroes can brave additional bosses and unlock the rare medals.

NOTE: An additional download of about 700MB will be required after installation of this application, so please make sure you have access to a stable internet connection. The download will expand in size during installation, and you will need a total of about 1.1 GB free in order to play this game.

The Preview Night was held from 18:00 - 21:00 JST, and the meeting place was Osaka Umeda Yodobashi 1st Basement. There was no entry fee. Instead, 40 Square Enix Japan members were selected by lottery to be invited.

The series director Tetsuya Nomura, executive producer Shinji Hashimoto, Kingdom Hearts III co-director Tai Yasue, and lead character modeler Mr Yamasaki made a surprise appearance during the event. They some comments about Kingdom Hearts III as well as the future of Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross].

The main attraction of the night was, however, the introduction of the Kingdom Hearts themed menu which included various food items and drinks. A variety of art was also showcased at the event including original artwork drawn by Nomura, and exclusive merchandise, including previously event-exclusive merchandise, has been made available for purchase for the duration of the campaign.

This event precedes the collective campaign event between Square Enix Café Osaka, Square Enix Café Tokyo, and ARTNIA for the Kingdom Hearts 15th Anniversary. This will be held at both Square Enix Cafés plus ARTNIA. ARTNIA will be holding it from October 14th, 2017 to December 14th, 2017, and both Square Enix Café Osaka and Square Enix Café Tokyo will be holding it from October 14th, 2017 to November 10th, 2017. Tickets were made available for purchase starting October 6th, 2017. You can check out more info about this event here.

Thanks to KH13 staff member Mio-chan and LadyAleister, we have translations on some of the information given by Nomura, Hashimoto, and more at the event, and also some impressions of the Twitter users.

- Sora's birthday isn't specified, but it should be the day of his debut (March 28, 2002), just as other Disney characters.- There is desire of making supporting characters and Organization XIII mini figures, so Nomura will think about it.- Sea Salt Ice Creams at the event had winner sticks among them at the event which attendees were able to be exchange for a free coaster.- They worked hard to host the Café, and maybe there are no more chances to do so, so Nomura asked everyone to enjoy that month.- There is no schedule for a release of Nomura’s art collection at the moment.- There is also no plans for selling a Promotional Video collection for now.- The staff said that the release of the Kingdom Key prop replica should be asked to Bandai, as they are the ones who Disney handed the rights to.

Impressions

"Firstly, when Mr. Hashimoto went to sign my copy, he said, "Please get a signature from the creators first. I'll write in the remaining gap after that." when I was thanking the developers. He's so nice." (@yossthan)

This feature includes an interview with the director of the Kingdom Hearts series, Tetsuya Nomura, where he confirms that Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ will be coming overseas, with testing already underway in North America. As a result of the testing, they have decided to change Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] cards into "medals", in order to appeal more to a Western audience.

The full translation of this interview question can be read below, thanks to our translator SkyKeybladeHero.

-- In [KHx], cards are used for the battle system, but in this game they have become medals?

Nomura: Since we are considering developing this game overseas, we have adjusted it accordingly. When our testing team in America had Smartphone users play it, if they saw cards as they appeared in [KHX], they tended to think of it as the so called "card games". Although after having they play it for a while we had good reactions, the first impression of the game wasn't good. Since the first impression of a game is very important, we tried something other than cards.

-- You are considering developing it overseas, but what about the server's configuration and segmentation?

Nomura: We plan on adding new servers. We are also taking into account the chatting element, so I think we will divide it by Language Versions.

Square Enix Japan have announced that a new Kingdom Hearts title will be releasing for iOS and Android in 2015, known as Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ. The title will be free-to-play with optional in-app purchases, the first smartphone title in the series, and an adaption of the PC browser game Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]. We will update as more information becomes available.

'Kingdom Hearts Unchained Key' for iOS/Android, scheduled to release 2015, free to play (with in-app purchasable items), the gameplay of 'Kingdom Hearts Key' remade for smartphones, setup for the plot has also been prepared for this newest title in the series.

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χis now available in Google Play for North American users. Though the download is region locked, it takes just a few steps to download the app from outside of North America. Please follow the instructions listed below:

Enable installing APKs (Android app install files) from outside of the Google Play Store. To do this, go to the "Settings" app, scroll down to "Security", and tick "Unknown sources". Click OK on the popup alert.

Update: Utada Hikaru's official website featured Youtube links to the North American version of the latest Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue trailer. It also included links for other countries, such as the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

The links led to Youtube videos that were unavailable to view at the time.

The links have since been taken down.

The original article follows.

A final Japanese trailer for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue has just been released, announced by series director Tetsuya Nomura on Twitter. In the tweet, he mentions that more news will be coming tomorrow at noon, Japan time, as he will have "something else more to say", as translated by goldpanner. A few hours before this announcement, he had tweeted a screenshot from Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ featuring Cinderella, alluding to the announcement of this trailer.

This new trailer features new cutscenes and gameplay from the KH2.8 collection, including brand new gameplay between Aqua and King Mickey in Birth by Sleep 0.2 -A Fragmentary Passage-, and a customization feature for Aqua. The trailer also features Aqua and Mickey in Destiny Islands, possibly still within the Dark World.An interesting detail is also present in the trailer. Last month, we covered a Weekly Shonen Jump scan in which Ventus had a slightly different outfit from what was seen in previous games. However, Ventus is in both his normal outfit and this new outfit at different points in this trailer.The trailer also features "Hikari -Ray of Hope MIX-", remixed by PUNPEE, which will be available on iTunes Japan on January 11, 2017, along with other remixes of "Hikari" and "Simple and Clean". You can watch the trailer below.

Thanks to Twitter user @xenosaga7, we've got translations for the Main Menu in Birth by Sleep 0.2 -A Fragmentary Passage- shown in the trailers. You can read those below.

So the main menu says

-Challenge-decoration-customization-story-config-game help

YouTube User Keytotruth has added English and Spanish subtitles to the trailer. You can watch the trailer with subs below by clicking the closed caption button.

You can watch the official Japanese trailer without subs below.

There are still no updates on when the English version of the trailer will be released.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue releases on the PlayStation 4 in Japan on January 12, 2017, and worldwide on January 24, 2017.

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is now available to download for both iOS & Android devices in North America on the Google Play Store & Apple App Store today! Just hop on the respective app store for your device and download the app - it's free!

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is approximately 1.1 GB, with about 700 MB required after installation.

We wanted to thank all the KINGDOM HEARTS fans for patiently waiting for the launch of KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ in North America. Ever since the launch of the Japanese version, we’ve received many inquiries about when the North America version would become available. Because this is the first KINGDOM HEARTS title that we are providing operation support for outside of Japan, I’m afraid the preparations took longer than expected; but at last, we are ready to begin services for the North American version of KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ.

KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ falls into the earliest part of the KINGDOM HEARTS series chronology, and it is also the story of new beginnings. The main story may progress slowly, but part of the narrative experience is to take the time to tangibly feel other players existing in the same world as you do. By unraveling the mystery behind the era of “fairytales”, and experiencing the truth leading up to the Keyblade War, we believe players will be able to enjoy KINGDOM HEARTS II.8 even more, which is expected to launch this year. And it goes without saying that it will link not only to KINGDOM HEARTS III, but also to what lies beyond.

The gameplay will be much different from what you may be used to in previous KINGDOM HEARTS titles; in this game, the players would aim for a “one-turn triumph” which focuses on providing players with an exhilarating gameplay experience in a short amount of time on a smartphone. The battle mechanics were designed by the main programmer of The World Ends With You and the Co-director of KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ, Hiroyuki Ito, so if you’ve ever played The World Ends With You, you can expect a similar kind of enjoyment there as well. While we have various elements included, such as collecting and strengthening medals, avatars with a broad range of customization, communication between party members, a ranking system and much more, it is also a game that feels right at home within the KINGDOM HEARTS franchise.

We hope KINGDOM HEARTS fans can dive into the world of KINGDOM HEARTS not only through this title, but through the upcoming titles, KINGDOM HEARTS HD II.8 Final Chapter Prologue and KINGDOM HEARTS III. At the same time, as an origins story, there are many elements in the game that new players can enjoy, and the game can also be easily picked up and played, so players in Japan are enjoying the game even if they’ve never experienced the KINGDOM HEARTS series before. So, it would be great if fans new and old take the opportunity to play the game!

KINGDOM HEARTS Series Director Tetsuya Nomura

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ was developed by Square Enix in partnership with Success and BitGroove Inc. All three of these developers include staff members such as Tetsuya Nomura, Tatsuya Kando, Hiroyuki Itou who have worked on Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded, The World Ends With You, and Final Fantasy All The Bravest in some capacity.

The special aspect of Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is its social features. Be sure to utilize our Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ forums here on KH13, and for more detailed information on the game itself, check out the Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ Wiki!Will you download Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ on your Android/iOS device(s)? Let us know in the comments below!

Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is coming to North America on April 7th, 2016. The game will be released on iOS and Android. In addition, a new Twitter account was made for the North American version of the game where they will release updates and news. You can follow this Twitter account here. The blog also includes a commemorative drawing from series director Tetsuya Nomura, as well as an interview about the game's ties to the series, both of which you can view below:

1) Please explain where in the KH series the story takes place.

This is the story of the “beginning” of the KINGDOM HEARTS series; in other words, it falls into the earliest part of the narrative. It takes place in the world of fairy tales talked about throughout the series, during an era before the Keyblade War. There are many different keyblade wielders in the world, and you, the player, are one of them.

All three titles within KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅱ.8 has a link to KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ in some way. You can see it most prominently shown in KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover – a brand-new, approximately one-hour long cinematic piece, which is depicted from the perspective the Foretellers, who gather the Keyblade Wielders. On the flip side, KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained χ is seen from the player’s perspective. By watching KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover, the player will be able to get a glimpse of what kind of motive these supposed leaders are operating under behind the scenes.

And in KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD, which is the HD remastered version of the Nintendo 3DS game KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance, you may noticed the Dream Eaters were a sort of foreshadowing. And the title that would act as a bridge between these two titles would be the latest installment in the series, KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth By Sleep, which is developed utilizing the technology behind KINGDOM HEARTSⅢ. It is a sequel to KINGDOM HEARTS: Birth By Sleep, and a short episode that follows immediately after the events of KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD, but it’s a title in which players can get an early feel for KINGDOM HEARTSⅢ.

3) You mentioned this before at E3 2015, but what was the inspiration behind the character Chirithy?

When we realized we needed some kind of character that navigates the players due to the nature of the game, I didn’t want a character that’s too self-asserting considering that they would accompany the players throughout the journey. Once that idea got rolling, then I thought a cat would be great, since you can’t tell what it’s thinking, but can still get along fairly easily with humans, so I went with my favorite, the Scottish Fold as my motif.

I liked the Meow Wow from KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance, too, but I designed the eyes the way I did to make sure you do not get a sense of it being self-asserting. Some people might have the wrong perception that because I own Scottish Fold cats, I modelled the character after them, but it’s actually the other way around; a while after we began developing, I started to own two Scottish Folds. By the way, their names are not Chirithy.

4) Aside from characters and world that appeared in the Kingdom Hearts series, what are some new characters and worlds that are unique only to Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ?

The game is currently progressing under a certain rule, so the only brand-new world would be “Daybreak Town,” the home town in which the players first start out, but there may be a possibility [of other worlds] should we continue providing service through the app.

In terms of new characters, there are not only the five Foretellers and Chirithy, but there are also key new characters named Ephemera and Skuld that appear and move the story.

5) What aspect of the game do you think will appeal to fans? What do you think fans will get hooked on? (i.e. collecting medals, events, etc.)

One of the biggest pillars would be the sense of playing live, which is very different for existing KINGDOM HEARTS series titles thus far. You may have communication and cooperation, as well as the occasional competition, but the sensation of going somewhere and realizing there are people there and the world is moving is very unique to this particular KINGDOM HEARTS.

Along those lines, various events are being held frequently depending on the occasion, the medal collection element is key to your battles, we also offer a ranking element, and a unique story told only in this KINGDOM HEARTS, so I’m sure there is some kind of element that would pique your interest.

6) What kind of costumes are included in the game? Is there a particular costume of a character that you particularly love?

There are so many different costumes already; of course you have the original designs, then Disney characters, KINGDOM HEARTS characters, and seasonal/special occasion designs, all for both male and female avatars respectively. Plus, you can mix and match the outfit elements, so I think the players can really bring out their individuality.

From what I’ve seen, the hairstyle of the KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance version of “The World Ends with You” Neku matched up with the black coat of Organization XIII seem to be popular. Also, the KINGDOM HEARTS version of FINAL FANTASY VII Cloud costume and King Mickey’s costume are popular as well. If I were to choose, personally, I’d like the Cheshire Cat costume.

7) Do you have a special message for the fans?

As mentioned in the beginning, this is the story of the start of KINGDOM HEARTS. In other words, there is no need for any prior knowledge of the series.

I would love for people who have not yet played KINGDOM HEARTS to take this opportunity to casually jump right in with a blank slate. And of course for our fans, you can approach and play this KINGDOM HEARTS in any way you like, so through collecting medals of your favorite characters, collecting costumes, and moreover becoming a part of the KINGDOM HEARTS world and experiencing the enjoyment of weaving your own story that leads to one of the biggest mysteries in the series, which is the “Keyblade War,” I hope you can further enjoy the upcoming release of KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅱ.8 and KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅲ, as well as the KINGDOM HEARTS that will continue beyond that.

Thus far there has been no mention of when Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ will release in other regions. We will provide updates as soon as they become available.

Will you be downloading Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ? Let us know in the comments!

A Kingdom Hearts III feature will be included in the upcoming Weekly Famitsu issue, and earlier today, Esoteru posted a summary of its highlights online. Since then, more leaks have released from Hachima. Some parts of this have already been covered in the aforementioned highlights summary, but now, we have the information in more detail and new information as well.

Tetsuya Nomura would like for you to wait for the next report, which will be some time in 2018.

There was some last-minute post-editing on the D23 and the Orchestral Concert PVs; Nomura wanted to tie things back to something with the word "dive," thinking back to the original concept of KH.

There were some strong feelings about the Toy Story world, because Nomura wanted to include it in KH2. Nomura's been negotiating for it since the first KH game. He met with John Lasseter when he came to Japan and told him about every element he wanted to include.

The Toy Story world does not take place during the original story, but picks up somewhere after Toy Story 2 and is consistent with the timeline of the movies.

This isn’t in the PV, but there is a scene where Sora is mistaken for an action figure of a game character by Rex.

Sora and company’s Toy Story world looks were designed by art directors who interacted to combine designs; the first team’s design was similar to action figures while the other group tried to match the aesthetic of Toy Story. The two had to come together and discuss and convince one another to arrive at the final design.

The staff was surprised at how easy it was to reproduce the graphic appearance of the original films. The looks of other worlds and gimmicks and such have been difficult for this game.

The Toy Story world’s percentage [of completeness] and quality was high enough to be seen earlier, but based on our PR plans it wasn’t shown until now. When they announced the Big Hero 6 world, Nomura could only show one illustration because it was a somewhat sudden request, so this time Nomura wanted to show video.

Production on the Big Hero 6 world is going well, though the matter of the last selected world is still ahead of them.

Multiple battle commands are displayed in the PV because there is always a choice in what to do in battle, there’s some tactical fun in assembling combos of your choosing. It might seem tough, but I want to reassure you that you can pull off some fancy techniques with the right button combinations.

Check out the second half, translated by News Team member Dengojin, below:

Each world will have it's own guest party members and they will have their unique collaboration commands, since it is a new system it will be introduced in details later.

Riding a robot to fight was an early idea sent at the beginning of the development to the dev team, each floor of the toy shop will have it's own gimmick.

The toy shop will be the main area in the Toy Story world you can enjoy other gimmicks with various toys sold there.

There is surprise in the future.*

The world where Young Eraqus and Xehanort is an original world. Also he mentions that KH3 will have less Disney worlds than KH2 in numbers, but they will be richer and more playable.

There are so many characters, so the story is dark and he is not planning it to end it all at once.

Each character story must be settled. This will involve members from the former Organization XIII.

Nomura is not directing anything else beside the announced titles, but he is involved with many.

Kingdom Hearts Union χ[cross] fifth Union leader chapter has been written and it will be released early August.

Nomura would like to give us more information about Kingdom Hearts III battle later.

*Pretty vague, maybe referring to the Toy Story world to be full of surprises?

Toy Story is the latest world revealed for Kingdom Hearts III through the trailer unveiled last week at the D23 Expo in Anaheim. The Weekly Famitsu feature, which will recap the event and include an interview with Tetsuya Nomura, will be published on July 20 in Japan. Stay tuned with us for updates and translations!

UPDATE 1: The Weekly Famitsu issue has been released! Check out full scans of it, as well as full translations, here.

Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ[chi] has been renamed to Kingdom Hearts Union χ[cross] for its second season. You can view the official logo and new artwork, as well as the new trailer, below:

The trailer focuses on the all-new Multiplayer Mode and shows Ventus for the first time in the game. We'll bring an update with the translated trailer as soon as we get it. You can visit the Japanese pre-registration page for the game here.

UPDATE 1: A teaser trailer is now available for the English version of Kingdom Hearts Union χ. View the trailer from the official Kingdom Hearts YouTube channel below:

UPDATE 2: We now have the English release date for Kingdom Hearts Union χ. According to Gematsu, the free update will be released in April with a new "Union Cross" multiplayer mode and more ways you can customize your player avatar.

Here's an overview from Square Enix:

With Kingdom Hearts: Union χ, players can create teams of six from their party members or through a matchmaking feature to fight hordes of Heartless enemies and powerful bosses. Players can also take on quests of increasing difficulty as well as unique new missions. To help these teams of friends communicate with each other, the game will now include emotes and text bubbles. Players will encounter both familiar and new faces as the story of the Unions continues to unfold, and the new “Theater Mode” will allow players to relive the drama and rewatch cutscenes.

UPDATE 3: We have also added translations for the trailer dialogues. Check the translations below.

Trailer text: Let us meet again here tomorrow

First Dialogue:

Ava: You are one of the 5 chosen by Dandelion. You 5 have to become a foreseers, lead a union and guide everyone.

Second Dialogue:

Master of Masters: There is no need for memories of the calamity in the next era. Here and in other worlds, I want you to experience a time without calamity.

Ava : Is that really possible ?

Master of Masters: Don't worry I can do it. First take care of these 5.

Third dialogue :

Skuld: Am I the second one ?

Ephemera : Skuld ? Is that you ?

Skuld: More importantly, I wonder who are the 3 others.

Ephemera: I was sceptical when Lady Ava told me to come here so I didn't even think who would come here too.

The official Japanese e-Store for Square Enix is now selling a box of Kingdom Hearts themed key rings based upon the medals found in Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ[chi]! The set features KH II Mickey, KH1 Cloud, Donald, Shadow, Axel, Roxas, DDD Sora, and KH1 Riku. Currently, the collection is priced at $51, £40, or €47 euros.

The collection will be available April 29th in Japan. There is no confirmation of this box set being available anywhere else. The medals can be seen below, and can be purchased from here.

UPDATE 2: View a photo of all of the key rings from the Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ[chi] medal key ring box laid out, thanks to @ArikaMiz on Twitter, below:

UPDATE 3: CaféReo has revealed a new box of key ring medals from Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]. These medals include KH1 Sora, Meow Wow, Ventus, Naminé, Xion, Axel and Roxas, Winnie the Pooh, and KH 0.2 Mickey. The box set will cost 5,600 yen ($49.79 USD) and each medal will be 700 yen ($6.22 USD). The key rings will be available in November 2017. You can view the medals below:

UPDATE 4: The new box of key rings medals from Kingdom Hearts Union χ[cross] is now available to pre-order on AmiAmi! You can pre-order the box set here. Their list price is 6,040 ($53.76 USD), and their AmiAmi 15% off price is 5,120 yen ($45.57 USD).

UPDATE 5: The new box of key rings medals from Kingdom Hearts Union χ[cross] is now available to pre-order on the Square Enix Japan Store. Their list price is 6,040 yen ($53.71 USD) and are set to release on November 17th, 2017. You can pre-order the box set here.

The latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation magazine features new art by Tetsuya Nomura in celebration of Dengeki PlayStation's 600th issue as well an entire special spread dedicated to the Kingdom Hearts series. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts III, and Kingdom HeartsUnchained χ were featured most prominently in this special, including many screenshots as well as several comments by series director Tetsuya Nomura.

For now, we have a few tweets about the content of the special, thanks to @_ikenie

Battle with Xehanort draws to a close, his motivation for acquiring the Kingdom Hearts discussed a little

What "Kingdom Hearts" actually is won't be fully revealed until the very end of KH3. It will be discussed further than previous entries

Full translations can be found under the spoiler tag. Thanks to Kayla Copeland (nichiei.translations@gmail.com) for the translations.

Spoiler

Congratulations on Volume #600. We've been together for a while.I feel very fortunate that the timing of [KH2.8] coincides with this special anniversary.I would like to portray my feelings of felicitation regarding both occasions.

For the sake of expediting the schedule, the King and the others were drawn beforehand,but in order to create a more unified feeling, they're being redrawn from scratch.Actually, Chirithy (on the right) is holding a pen and was originally supposed to be writing a congratulatory message in the upper right-hand corner, but in order to match with the layout, I had to cut it off. As for what was written there, please read it with the eyes of your hearts.

When I think about it, I've been allowed to draw the cover many times in the past, but what I remember most are the bitter memories of wanting to redraw the “Parasite Eve” cover. In the end, I never got that chance, but it's a good memory. (laughs)

I'll be continuing on with [KH2.8]'s release and [KHIII], so if this opportunity ever arises again, I would be honored to participate. In addition, I plan to talk about [FFVII] in either the 700th, or 777th volume, so please look forward to that as well.

[Kingdom Hearts] Series Director: Tetsuya Nomura

[Kingdom Hearts III] is the conclusion we've been waiting for, with Sora as the protagonist for the [Dark Seeker] series. And now, three more keys to unlocking that final chapter's door have been introduced with [Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue]. Introducing these two titles, mixed with Tetsuya Nomura's commentary, we'll pursue the remaining mysteries!

SORAA young man who has been the series protagonist since the first game. In order to search for the “key to return their hearts,” he has set out on a new journey in an all-new story.

KEY POINTFight in new worlds while heading toward the final battle!

It has already been presented that in [Kingdom Hearts III] (hereon known as [KHIII]), we will be traveling to a new world based on [Tangled], as well as the appearance of a [Big Hero 6] world. As for the other worlds, we're curious as to how many of the worlds will be ones we've traveled to before. In this series, we've encountered a wide variety of Disney characters, and by combining our strengths we've solved a lot of problems--that's been the flow for the most part. We're hoping to see more of that.

PICK UPFinally, a conclusion to the [Dark Seeker] series!The [Dark Seeker] (or, Seeker of Darkness) series is a story featuring Sora as the protagonist since the very beginning. In [KHIII], we will fight a final battle to defeat the main cause of the battle over “Kingdom Hearts,” the mastermind Xehanort. It's also a point of concern to find the whereabouts of the three protagonists of [KHBbS], Terra, Aqua and Ventus.

WHAT IS BIG HERO 6?This film was released in theaters in 2014. Based on a story in the Marvel Comics universe, he Walt Disney Animation Studios created the film using CG animation. In order to find out the truth of his older brother's death, the protagonist Hiro stands up to fight with the robot his brother created, Baymax. A powerful enemy stands before these two.

THE WORLD OF [TANGLED]Up in a tall tower hidden deep in the forest lives a girl named Rapunzel, who has long, blonde hair that possesses magical powers. You'll want to check out this film before playing.

KINGDOM HEARTS IIIPS4 - Release Date TBA - Price TBAThe next numbered title to succeed the 2005 release of [KHII]. Sora and his friends move forward, now understanding the meaning of their fight for Kingdom Hearts against Xehanort, and search for the seven protectors of light on an all-new journey!

(FULL TITLE ACROSS THE TOP)And so all of the mysteries will be unraveled--We'll encompass all of the information released up until this point.In addition, we'll delve into the information regarding the final game and the episodes leading up to the conclusion of the [Dark Seeker] series.

KEY POINTThe abilities of the keyblade are affected by the wielder's heart!?

In this work, it seems that Sora has the ability to change the form of the keyblade. The armored man (“Lingering Will”) he met in a previous encounter was also able to change the shape of his keyblade, and Terra, Aqua, and Ventus were all able to change it into a machine they could ride on, and now Sora finally can, too! Is this because Sora's heart has matured, or did he gain this ability after training?

(red text) These appear to be gun arrows, but there are plenty of other forms< The weapon he's holding in his right hand appears to be ice-powered, and the one in his left is designed to use lightning. They also resemble the gun arrows that Xigbar used...!?

PICK UPNew “Attraction Flow” makes a flashy appearance

A big highlight is the new “Attraction Flow” added into the action portions of the game. These are special attacks based on attractions in the Disney theme parks, and from what we've seen, Sora can ride on a roller coaster, a viking ship, and teacups; you can damage enemies with these flashy techniques. It seems that there will be plenty more of these skills.

^ Sora, Donald, and Goofy rotate on the cups, and the coffee cup damages enemies. The brightly-designed electric illuminations are especially vivid!

(red text) Pegasus is pulling a chariot?< Sora is controlling a vehicle resembling an Ancient Roman war chariot. Can powerful enemies be defeated with this?> You can also become gigantic. The design resembles Hercules gripping lightning!?

KEY POINTWhat is the conclusion of the battle with Xehanort?In [KHIII], the seven protectors of light will clash with Xehanort!? This will also serve as the conclusion to the [Dark Seeker] series. In addition, it appears that we will be meeting a young Xehanort at the beginning of the story, as well as finding out how he came to hold the wish of “obtaining Kingdom Hearts, and return the balance of light and darkness”..?

(red text)Xehanort held interest in the darkness since his days as an apprentice?^Xehanort told Eraqus, who trained with him under the same master, “The Lost Master caused the Keyblade War,” and “At that place, light will lose to darkness.” He seemed to also understand a lot about the mysteries of past happenings.

Creator's Voice [KINGDOM HEARTS] -- Tetsuya Nomura

--The term “Lost Master” appeared in the conversation between Xehanort and Eraqus at the beginning of [KHIII]--is that someone who will tie into to [KHx]?Nomura: It's something that'll be discussed further in [KHx], [KHUx], and [KhxBC], but it'll be used in [KHIII].

--In what we've seen so far, Master Xehanort's keyblade has a special feature of a single strike, but will that be explained in [KHIII]?Nomura: It'll be talked about in [KhxBC] and will connect to [KHIII].

--Will you clearly explain the definition of the word “Kingdom Hearts,” and explain what exactly it is in [KHIII]?Nomura: Since this is also involving the final stage, I can't say how much yet, but it will be talked about more than it has before so far.

--Please tell us more about the “Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater” event in this year's D23 on 11/3.Nomura: Before we've used the concept of a “stage,” but this time, since it is a “theater,” please look forward to a theatrical production.

KINGDOM HEARTS DREAM DROP DISTANCE HD

The prologue game to [KHIII] starring Sora and RikuAn HD release of [KH3D Dream Drop Distance], which was originally released in 2012. It relays a story in which Sora and Riku serve as the protagonists and journey to “sleeping worlds.” The game comes right before [KHIII] on the timeline, and it serves as the final prologue for that title. Sora and Riku take their Mark of Mastery exam, members of Organization XIII return to the picture, and several other not-to-be-missed special events occur. Before playing [KHIII], be sure to learn more about this story first.

KEY POINTAfter passing the Mark of Mastery, Sora and Riku head for the final battle!!

Sora, who up until this point had been using the keyblade with a self-taught method, and Riku must take the Mark of Mastery in order to learn the correct way to wield, as well as build their strength. In the sleeping worlds that serve as the stage for the exam, they fight against monsters called Dream Eaters and gain maturity along the way. The strength that they build during the test will surely serve them well in the battle awaiting them at the conclusion of [KHIII]. It's worth paying attention to.

(timeline)The connection between [KHDDD] and [KHIII]KH ReCodedYensid talks about the revival of Master Xehanort. In order to battle against the forces of darkness, he calls upon Sora and Riku.

KH DDDIn preparation for the coming battle, Sora and Riku take their Mark of Mastery exam. They travel the seven sleeping worlds and unlock the seven sleeping keyholes.

KHIIIOpens right after the events of [KHDDD]. An older Sora and his companions face Master Xehanort in an all-out final battle.

(red text)The two who journey through sleeping worlds< Sora and Riku “dive” into the sleeping worlds' dreams. On their journey, they also encounter characters from [The World Ends With You]!

SORAIn order to gain new strength, he sets out to complete his Mark of Mastery exam. During the test, he reverts back to his 14 year-old self.

RIKUSora's best friend and a keyblade wielder. In order to test his worthiness, he participates in the Mark of Mastery exam.

Gain great strength by fighting with Dream Eaters!^ While fighting the Dream Eaters in the sleeping worlds, Sora and Riku aim to unlock the keyholes. The fight at the end of the story is also quite startling!

KEY POINTOrganization XIII members once again appear!One of the members of Organization XIII closes in on the King and his friends!Organization XIII has a connection to Sora and his friends. Their dispute was settled in [KHII], but they appear once again in [KHDDD]. A portion of the members return to their human forms, and Lea (formerly known as Axel) and the others move toward a new objective. How they behave in [KHIII] will likely not be a plot point we can overlook.

<Lea approaches the King and the others with a new goal. We should pay attention to what he's up to in even the final chapter of the series.

LEAOrganization XIII's No. 8, Axel, who has returned to his original human form. He was best friends with No. 13, Roxas.

PICK UPYou can see the results of the test in [KHIII]

After overcoming many trials and battles in the sleeping worlds, Sora and Riku completed their exam. The two matured as a result, and you can see the fruits of their labors in [KHIII]. As a result of the strength gained on their journey up to this point, what kind of changes will we see with them?

^Is the power to change the keyblade's form something Sora learned on his travels? Also, we're hoping to see the same kind of growth in Riku after taking his test.

PICK UPWhat about the whereabouts of No. 9 through 12?

A portion of the original members of Organization were revived. We still don't know the whereabouts of the remaining members, but perhaps this is something that will be revealed in [KHIII].> Ansem the Wise's research assistants returned to their original human forms.

(line at the top of the page)Stories that hide the key connect to the final chapter

KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 BIRTH BY SLEEP -FRAGMENTARY PASSAGE-Follow the story of Aqua as she passes through the darknessThis production involves the aftermath of [KH Birth by Sleep], the battle and tragedy of three keyblade wielders. Aqua serves as the protagonist as she explores the dark realm. It reveals many details that were not previously known about the realm of darkness, and a new truth may unfold!? There are portions that are closely connected with [KHIII], and it's something that you'll need to check out as a fan.

KEY POINTHelp for Terra, Ventus, and Aqua?The three protagonists of [KHBbS] were met with a cruel fate and disappeared from the worlds. Their situation doesn't change in [KH0.2BbS], but on Aqua's journey in the dark realm, there is a possibility that she will discover a way to save them. As for what will save them in the end, it's still a mystery, but that too should be made clear in [KHIII].

TERRAA sincere young man who possesses an earnest heart. Under his master's orders, he set out to travel the worlds.CURRENT STATUSAs a result of Master Xehanort's schemes, Terra lost his body, and his heart has disappeared somewhere.

VENTUSA boy full of curiosity. He chased after Terra, who he regards as an older brother figure, and he too set out to travel the worlds.CURRENT STATUSAt the end of a fierce battle, his heart was shattered, and now he is someplace where he sleeps without ever awakening.

AQUAA wise young woman with a strong sense of justice. She goes out on a journey to track down Terra and Ventus.CURRENT STATUSIn [KHBbS], she fell into the realm of darkness, and even now she is still trapped somewhere in there.

The connection between [KH0.2BbS] and [KHIII]

KINGDOM HEARTS BBSThe story of three young people's journeys. At the end of the battle, Aqua is trapped in the realm of darkness.

KH~KHDDD + KH0.2BbSThe story of Aqua's journey and battles in the dark realm. In the outside worlds, the story from KH to KHDDD progresses, but the link between these two lengths of time is not clear.

KHIIIWe are told that, before the journey begins, the King meets with Aqua in the realm of darkness once more.

KEY POINTWhat about the missing 0.3?The number [0.5] appeared in the secret episode of [KHBbSFM], but according to Director Tetsuya Nomura, “We thought to tell the story of 0.5 with all three characters, but instead we decided on 0.2 with a focus on Aqua.” Will the dropped [0.3] scenes be discussed in [KHIII]? If we play [KH0.2BbS], will the content for [0.3] become clear!?

What was it that Aqua saw in the realm of darkness...?< How will Aqua's experiences in the dark realm influence the final chapter!?

PICK UPWhat happened in the the dark realmThe realm of darkness that Aqua traverses is a place that has only been discussed in fragments. In the secret episode, the Castle of Dreams shown, as well as King Mickey receiving a keyblade from the dark realm, etc. still remain as large mysteries. Whether or not these happenings will be disclosed in [KH0.2BbS] or not is a point of discussion.

^ A supplement to [KHBbSFM]'s secret episode. The story of [KH0.2BbS] will begin right after this.

Master Xehanort is possibly involved, too!The content for the remaining [0.3] is unclear, but there is a real possibility of the mastermind of the series, Master Xehanort, appearing as well.

Creator's Voice [KINGDOM HEARTS] -- Tetsuya Nomura--As a continuation to [KHIII], in [KH3D] you touched on the “seven protectors of light” and the “thirteen darkness,” but will these be made clear?Nomura: Not including who has already been disclosed in [KH3D], their identities will be concealed until the end of [KHIII], so please enjoy waiting for the reveal.

--What kind of changes happen once you become a keyblade master?N: Because it's just a title, there's not really any large differences, but more of a matter of becoming an heir. You inherit the destiny of becoming a mentor, and you are passed down the wisdom of what makes a master a master.

--While Aqua is wandering the realm of darkness, the story from [KH] to [KHII] occurs in the outside worlds. Is the link to these events in [KH0.2BbS]?N: Since it's a title linked to [KHIII], it will obviously makes those links clear.

--Who was speaking during the most recent trailer for [KhxBC]?N: It was Chirithy.

KEY POINTThe story of a generation older than [KH]This story is the oldest in the series' timeline, and it takes place in the past, long before Sora was a wielder. The worlds were protected by “Kingdom Hearts” and its counterpart, the “χ-blade,” but then darkness began to spring up all over the worlds. In order to fight of the darkness, the χ-blade created a model of itself, the Keyblade, and a journey around the worlds began. The player is one of many wielders of the Keyblade.

The influence of darkness on worlds overflowing with light......^It was a world filled with light before, but then darkness began to run rampant. In order to stop the overflow of darkness, the player journeys out with Keyblade in hand.

KEY POINTThe stage is set in the worlds just before the Keyblade warThe story of [KHUx] unfolds just before the “Keyblade war” of the distant past. At this time, there were many Keyblade wielders, and many of them were thought to have participated in the war, but the truth is not clear. A huge point of the story will be whether or not the details of the Keyblade war will be revealed.

PICK UPThe differences between the three titles marked with [χ]There are three titles with [χ] in them. The worlds are connected, but [KHχ] and [KHUχ] are from playable productions told from the Keyblade wielder's perspective. [KhχBC] will be a story focused on the Foretellers and is a theatrical production.

KHχBrowser gamePCService started in 2013. You can enjoy the game by collecting cards and customizing a deck to build your strength.

KHUχSmartphone appearanceiPhone/AndroidService started in 9/2015. The system for [KHχ] was remade to be playable on smartphones, and the player can enjoy casual battles.

KHχBCTheatrical productionPS4Will appear in [KHHD2.8]. The setting is the same as the other two games, but the story is told from the Foretellers' perspective.

PICKUPThat battle will soon become a legend...The Keyblade war caused by the Keyblade wielders is passed down as a legend in later worlds. Also, the site of the battle is known as the “Keyblade Graveyard.” In the “Keyblade Graveyard,” the Keyblades used in the war are still left there, lined up just like gravestones.^The Keyblade war was later told as a legend, but the main details of who or what caused the war were not really left behind.

Worlds in which great numbers of Keyblade wielders existed^ Keyblade wielders existed far and wide to dispel the darkness. Are they who started the war?

Five unions are at the story's core!< The five unions that the Keyblade wielders belong to also serve as keywords. Each union's goal seems a little different...

Novice Keyblade wielders' must-see play guide to [KHUχ]An explanation of points for the players just starting or planning to start [KHUχ]!

POINT: Actively gather medals with “draws”The key to battles are medals. Use draw and gain stronger medals. The 10-fold “raise draw” you can earn with 3000 jewels is great for getting five-star medals in one go.

^> By using other medals as mixing ingredients, you can raise the potential strength of your medals. Try making rare medals and boost your strength.Gain strength by synthesizing the medals you earn!

POINT: Actively aim for a 1-turn finish!Battles are turn-based. If you finish off the enemy in one turn, they won't be able to fight you back and you can proceed. In addition, you'll greatly restore your ability gauge, so you're killing two birds with one stone. The trick to using a 1-turn finish is in the screen flick and counterattacking with abilities. It's a good idea to set up several medals that can counterattack with a single ability gauge.

You can also use medals with a partner!^While out on a quest, you can select and carry one partner medal. If you use the power of a strong medal, it's easy to deal out 1-turn finishes!

KINGDOM HEARTS UNCHAINED χiPhone/AndroidCurrently in serviceBasic gameplay: free (extra items at a charge)The series' first smartphone app. It's simple gameplay for a smartphone, and you can enjoy the action battles while traversing Disney worlds.

(top text)The series' oldest story connects the worldsHere, we pick up with the currently-in-service smartphone app, [KH Unchained χ]. Let's take a look at the important points of the story, a players' guide, and more.

KEY POINTIntroducing characters who hold great meaning for the KH series going forwardIn this game, brand-new characters are introduced. The Foretellers, who hold an importance place in the lore, Chirithy, who guides the player, etc., are characters full of mystery who deepen the story. The Foretellers especially will be an important factor in the series going forward, even more than they are now. It's best to think along the lines that they are connected to [KHIII] as well.<The actions of the new characters are an important part of the story.

PICK UPThere's a traitor amongst the Foretellers!?In the new production [KhχBC]'s most recent trailer, the Foretellers' dialogue mentions a traitor in their ranks. The Foretellers' relationship with humans is a mystery, but it does not seem like an amicable one. Also, the Foretellers' unions are also not organizations with the same goal. The actions of the Foretellers from here on will become an important point!

(red text) The five Foretellers who created unions^Five mysterious entities who wear hoods. They each lead their own unions, and they act based on their search for the light.

(red text) Chirithy acts as the players' guide<A mysterious creature, Chirithy received orders from “a certain someone” and helps out on the player's adventure.

Of course, Disney Characters also appear!As per usual in this series, Disney characters also appear in this game. Players meet them when they first visit their respective worlds.(Names are Mickey Mouse, Alice, and Aladdin)^In certain worlds, Donald and Goofy also appear. Are they traveling to different worlds on their gummi ship?

KEY POINTThe story of many battles have been passed down to Xehanort and EraqusThe Keyblade war that waits at the point of [KHUχ] is later passed down as a legend throughout the worlds. Young Xehanort and Eraqus have even heard of the legend, and the two have a conversation about it. Then, after many years, Xehanort, who became a Keyblade Master, aimed to bring about the second coming of the Keyblade war. The Keyblade war that happened in legend is now about to happen again by the hands of the seeker of darkness.

(red text) Xehanort and Eraqus discussing the war<The opening scene of [KHIII]. A young Xehanort and Eraqus discuss the keyblade war. Even at this time, Xehanort appeared to already hold interest in the war...?

PICK UPThe mysterious “Lost Master”In the scene where a young Xehanort and Eraqus discussed the war, they mentioned a term we had never heard before, the “Lost Master.” If we determine “lost” to mean “someone or something lost,” then according to the timeline, it's very possible that it involves someone in the universe of [KHUχ]. This person was formerly one of the Foretellers, but will this mystery really be solved in [KHIII]!?

POINT: Increase the number of medal slots to strength your weapon!You start out with three medal slots on your keyblade, but if you strength the weapon, the slots increase. However, the material needed to increase slots, Orichalcum, is very rare and hard to come by.Put your focus on one weapon and collect raw materials for it--that's the way to strengthen it.

Keyblades you can get in the beginning of the gameStarlightA weapon with a balance of all three attributes.

Rock SplendorRaises the power attribute's medals.

Last ResortRaises the speed attribute's medals.

Desire LampRaises the magic attribute's medals.

(red text) You can open the medal slot twice<If you open the slot twice, you can set a maximum of five medals per one weapon.

Creator's Voice [KINGDOM HEARTS] -- Tetsuya Nomura

--Please tell us more about the new characters Chirithy and Ephemera, as well as the Foretellers.Nomura: Chirithy is the player's guide in the [χ] series. There are a number of players, but the series is one full of mysteries, and I'm often asked even by the staff members who are in the middle of playing if Chirithy is an enemy or an ally. As for the Foretellers, what I can say now is that they are the people who became the origin of the Keyblade Master. The world of [χ] is unfolding beyond their expectations. Ephemera is like the players, a wielder who is gathering light, but he feels a great amount of doubt towards the unions formed by the Foretellers, and he is looking into the mysteries of the worlds by himself.

--In the most recent trailer for [KhχBC], words like “Master of Masters,” “Six Apprentices,” “Traitor,” etc. appeared. Please tell us more about each of these.Nomura: Master of Masters refers to the teacher of the six apprentices and the person who created Chirithy. This person is quite eccentric but is greatly praised by the six apprentices. As I answered in a previous interview, five of the six apprentices created unions, and they instruct Keyblade wielders. The one remaining apprentice hasn't been talked about at all yet, so please wait for [KhχBC]. “Traitor” becomes a keyword of [KhχBC]'s story, so I think it will all become clear with its release.

You can find all of our scans of the special Kingdom Hearts feature below:

Some of the announcements include new worlds including what seems to be Castle of Dreams and the announcement that one of the worlds will be from a Disney world that has not been previously included in any Kingdom Hearts game thus far. Another announcement also includes the introduction of new multiplayer modes.

Last but not least, it was also confirmed that it was Ventus in the art that was released for Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]'s 3rd anniversary. Spoilers for Kingdom Hearts χ[chi]'s Final and Special episodes follow:

Spoiler

It is mentioned that Ventus's relation to this art also relates to Maleficent's appearance in Unchained 0 and explains that "these are the start of new developments".

The official international Twitter account for Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ also made a tweetpromising that exciting announcements were coming soon as well!

A message from Tetsuya Nomura was also included with these announcements and can be viewed below thanks to Katie Armstrong.

Spoiler

A whole year has not yet passed, but it feels as dense as a whole year. In this previous year, we chased after the world of “Kingdom Hearts χ”, and though the world of χ has ended and didn’t reach the milestone of one year [along with KHUχ], the world of “Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ” is ahead, and has two new features.

The first is “Multiplayer”, which offers a pleasant operation. Enjoy fighting Heartless together with party members in the field. “You should be free to fight together with your friends on your smart phone,” I said, and it became the major task for the past few years; the staff had talked about it and proposed it early on, not to mention the importance of the whispered word ‘connecting’ at the heart [of KH].

The other new feature is a big story development. The beginning of “season 2” is ahead, and the story will open up with a main story entry. We’ve already begun production on three new worlds. The third thing is beginning “season 2” with a new world, a Disney world that has not yet appeared in KH.

Departing from KHUχ a bit, the 3rd Anniversary card I drew has Ventus, and a line about Maleficent that is quite profound in relation to KHχ. More will start to unfold in the future, I think.Please enjoy the coming content enrichment, and thank your for playing Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ.-Tetsuya Nomura

Square Enix and CaféReo have teamed up and announced a Kingdom Hearts Union χ[cross] styled smartphone case. The “notebook type smartphone case” features the Kingdom Hearts crown with a slot to store a credit card or something similarly shaped. The case will cost 4,800 Yen (around $43.00 USD) and is planned to be released by the end of June 2017, but is limited to Japan. To buy and import the case, or simply find more product details, click here.

Click "Get" and then it will ask you to sign in. Click the "Create New Apple ID" option and choose to register with a new e-mail address that is not attached to any Apple accounts yet.

When it asks for you to fill out info you need to be sure to have "None" checked in payment options. The rest of the information can be whatever you wish except for the "Postal Code." This needs to be an official code and we used "27613." Your phone number can be your own, as well.

Agree with everything and finish the account setup. Now you should be able to enter your passcode and start installing the game!

In case you've forgotten through the midst of all the recent Kingdom Hearts news, the Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater event is being held on November 3rd, 2015, which is just over two weeks away (as of October 15th, 2015)! We are expecting new information (most likely a new trailer according to the name "premium theater") regarding Kingdom Hearts III, in addition to possible news about Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ.

We are assuming the event will be private, with heavy restrictions on recording devices and flash photography. That being said, we will be livetweeting information as it comes on our KH13.com Twitter account. Of course, we will be updating the site with an article as quickly as possible as we receive, interpret, and understand information we are given.

In order to commemorate the Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater event, we will be counting down days until the event on our social media accounts by revisiting news we've received about Kingdom Hearts III for the past few years. Please be sure to follow us on social media to receive instant Kingdom Hearts news and to receive reminders about the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater event!

On September 3rd, 2015, Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ was released in Japan. It has been 1 year since then, and with that, Tetsuya Nomura, director of the Kingdom Hearts series, has drawn some new artwork featuring Skuld, Ephemer, and Ventus. The artwork also includes two mysterious characters. You can check it out below.

Tetsuya Nomura also included a message with his artwork:

It's been one year? Thank you for the one year anniversary. With the various announcements brewing, please continue to enjoy. @Nomura #KHUX

Who do you think is the two mysterious characters in the artwork? Do you like the artwork? Let us know in the comments below!

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is now available to download in Japan via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for iOS & Android devices respectively.

You can view the app listings on both stores with the links below, with system requirements provided. Unfortunately, most users will be locked out of downloading the app from the stores directly, as the app is restricted to Japan-only. However, there are ways to get around this and you can check out our iOS guide and Android guide for installing the game outside of Japan.

Additionally, Tetsuya Nomura, the director of the Kingdom Hearts series has released a sketch to celebrate the launch of Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ. It features Ephemera and Chirithy. You can view it below.

Lastly, here are the title screen opening movie and the tutorial opening movie for Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ:

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ is a port of the Japan exclusive web browser game, Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] for iOS & Android devices. It is a free-to-play app with optional in-app-purchases. It has been confirmed for a release in North America, unfortunately there has been no announcement at this time of when it will release in English or other languages.

4Gamer.net has posted an interview with Tetsuya Nomura, where he shares some very interesting details about Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ. Nomura confirms that there will be no load times between areas in worlds, discusses the popularity of the series, and talks summons. He also shares his thoughts on the near 10 year gap between the release of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts III. He shares some details about Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ as well. You can read the fully translated interview bellow thanks to goldpanner.

Enjoy action that has evolved more and more on bigger maps in Kingdom Hearts III

4Gamer: Thank you very much for speaking with us. At E3 2015 you released a trailer for Kingdom Hearts III, which is the first new information on it in a while, so let's start by talking about that.

There were quite a lot of scenes of gameplay in this trailer, so we were finally able to see what sort of game it is shaping up to be. What are the features and points you'd like us to pay attention to for Kingdom Hearts III?

Tetsuya Nomura: When it comes to Kingdom Hearts, that would have to be the story and the battle, wouldn't it. I still cannot say anything about the story, but there were a lot of new flashy techniques in this trailer, so I think I was able to convey that end of things.4Gamer: There were various techniques that strongly resembled theme park attractions, weren't there?

The train, ship and tea cups and such decorated with lights are a skill called 'Attraction Flow'. There's also another feature where the Keyblade turns into things such as a chariot, or a double bow gun that transforms further and shoots magic bullets. That's a system where one Keyblade can transform into several phases, and we have created many more transformations that weren't in the trailer.

4Gamer: It sounds as though even from within the 'action' format battling has become quite varied.

Nomura: On top of that there are also techniques like the 'summon' command and other abilities of Sora's, so there are quite a lot of choices when it comes to battle. There was a scene in the trailer where Sora ran up a wall to fight - that freerunning is also something you can connect techniques to for bold moves.I think that an exhilarating feel is important to battle in Kingdom Hearts, so we are making battles that you can enjoy by unleashing lots of crisp techniques.

4Gamer: Kingdom Hearts III is the first title in the series to release on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Are there any features you included specifically to take advantage of the new hardware?

Nomura: Being able to move around flashily on large maps, like in that scene I think there is where Sora jumps off a cliff, is something we could do because of the new hardware. Up until now there have been load times when moving between areas, but now they connect seamlessly and the maps are also bigger, so you can do even flashier actions.Also, the AI during battle has been enhanced quite a bit. There was that scene where Donald and Sora are moving with Goofy has he wields his shield - you don't only execute that sort of thing yourself, Goofy and Donald can invite you into it too. On the other hand, the enemy AI is also more advanced, and we are also including the element of mutual enemies working together, so for example they can join together to charge at you and things like that.

4Gamer: Even though you weren't able to announce the release date this time, how is development coming along?

Nomura: The gameplay and world assignments have been decided, and the foundations are already done, so now we are at the stage of putting our effort into all details.

4Gamer: We are looking forward to more information. Kingdom Hearts is a title that is very popular overseas. What was the reaction on-location like at E3 when the trailer was shown?

Nomura: The reaction was amazing. There are so many fans overseas, I think perhaps it rivals that of Final Fantasy in popularity.

4Gamer: Why do you think Kingdom Hearts has earned so much popularity overseas?

Nomura: I have no clue (laughs).

4Gamer: What an immediate reply (laughs).

Nomura: I wonder why it's so popular? I think maybe the Disney look means it’s familliar and easy to feel affection towards for people overseas. But, I've spoke with people at Disney before who told me that the story of Kingdom Hearts is very Japanese.

4Gamer: Perhaps there's a feel to it that isn't in foreign games that projects appeal.

Nomura: Also, it's been about thirteen years since the first Kingdom Hearts title came out, and about ten years since KH2, so I've heard quite a few people say "Kingdom Hearts was the first game I played." Perhaps these games mean a lot to fans because they are part of their childhood memories.

4Gamer: You mentioned ten years just now. Why did there end up being such a long gap between KH2 and KH3?

Nomura: I personally didn't intend for so much time to pass after KHII. When people around me said it'd been ten years, I was so surprised, like, has there really been such a gap? See, I've been working on Kingdom Hearts titles this whole time. But in the midst of making spin-offs I ended up with fans saying "Another spin-off? When is KHIII coming out?" and yeah, ten years had actually passed. This is bad, I thought.

4Gamer: So that's why you decided to develop the long-awaited legitimate sequel.

4Gamer: You aren't only working on development of Kingdom Hearts III, but also Kingdom Hearts Unchainedχ (hereon Unchainedχ), aren't you? Although Unchainedχ is set the furthest back of any game in the series, it connects to KH3. How does that work?

Nomura: In the world of Kingdom Hearts so far the phrase 'Keyblade War' has come up a few times, which refers to a legend regarding a huge war fought between Keyblade Wielders. Even in the trailer we just released for Kingdom Hearts III, those two boys are talking about the Keyblade War. The world of Unchainedχ is set during the age just before that war. If you play Unchainedχ you will enjoy KH3 even more, so I would by all means love for you to play it while you are waiting for KH3 to be released.

4Gamer: Unchainedχ is the first title in the Kingdom Hearts series to be developed for smartphones. Are there any things you devised for smartphone use?

Nomura: When I play social games, I hate things that are a bother. Sometimes I think, 'this could have been done with just one tap.' So, we are taking care to try and make something that won't be stressful. I especially hate getting frustrated with load times, so we in the development team have been getting passionate, going, "Fast and light! Let's aim to make the fastest game ever!"

4Gamer: With the battles of Unchainedχ, there's the 'one turn finish' element where you try to end battles in short turns. Is that also the result of trying to cut down on bother?

Nomura: Yes, that's right. Any process that requires lots of compact operations on a little screen is going to be a bother, right? We consumer developers end up wanting to keep fiddling with things. In the beginning I was actually thinking of going with an even more different combat system, like fighting by tapping in time or something like that. But that was stupid (laughs).

4Gamer: It seems that polishing your tactics in the opening setup and thinking of how to defeat the enemy in one turn for points will be a fun part of battling.

Nomura: Before, there have been times when I played other smartphone games and thought, "where is the catharsis (for the players) meant to come from?" And then, the bit that made me think "from here!" was when you did something and points started increasing with incredible vigour. When it comes to the operation, it's important to get a response that feels good.From the beginning, in Kingdom Hearts we directed it so that when you defeat enemies prizes come bursting out, and we wanted to translate that kind of good response into a smartphone game. So then, the good feeling from one-shotting an enemy with a one turn finish is incorporated as one of the charms of the battles of Unchained χ.

Update: The mystery medal was in fact revealed to be a new render of Aqua in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue by Dengeki! From 4:00 JST on June 9th until 3:59 JST on June 20th, all players will receive the new Aqua medal simply by logging into the Japanese version of Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ.

Additionally, from 7:00 JST on June 9th until 23:59 JST on June 19th, there will also be a special event board and having the Aqua medal in your deck will attract event coins and treasure chests to help you strengthen it rapidly.

The original article follows:

Just a week before E3, the official Japanese Kingdom Hearts Unchained χTwitter account for the game launched a mystery medal campaign. With an image showing the silhouette of the new medal, the Twitter account announced that if their Tweet achieved 10,000 Retweets by June 7th, then they would unveil the new medal.

The Tweet reached 10,000 Retweets several hours after the Tweet was initially posted on 6/6 in Japan, and the account announced that the new medal will be released on 6/9 for Japanese players. It will be a part of the daily login bonus on 6/9.

Many are speculating that this could be the new look for Aqua in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. It just so happens that the official Japanese Twitter account for Kingdom Hearts tweeted that a new Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue trailer will release on 6/8 at 21:00 JST (8:00am EST, 5:00am PDT). The tweet promises that the trailer will reveal lots of new material, so look forward to it!

With a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue set to release the day before the medal is distributed, it is very likely to be a new render of Aqua from Kingdom Hearts 2.8.

What do you think the mystery medal could be? What are you looking forward to in the new trailer? Let us know in the comments below!

Pre-registration for the upcoming iOS & Android game, Kingdom Hearts Unchained χis now open for Japan. Those who pre-register will be treated to some special smartphone wallpapers featuring artwork of the game. Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ will launch during September 2015 for Japan. Along with the announcement of opening pre-registrations, an official Twitter account was created for Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ via @KHUX_PR.

You can view all the smartphone wallpapers below.

Additionally, some new images concerning the game were also released, you can view them below.

After the Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater event, held on November 3rd, 2015, Famitsu Weekly published an article detailing almost every aspect of the special D23 event. Take the time to read about the new details from Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and read special messages from the Japanese voice actors of the series! Thanks to News Team member Rin for the translations!

To celebrate the opening of Disney’s Fan Event “D23 Expo Japan 2015,” a “Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater” was held on November 3, 2015, at Tokyo Disney Resort’s Cinema Ikspiari.

Another super-duper Disney Resort KH event

As previously reported, the “Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater” event took place on November 3, 2015, to celebrate the opening of Disney’s Fan Event, “D23 Expo Japan 2015.” The Theater event took place at Tokyo Disney Resort’s Cinema Ikspiari, located in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture.

Among other things during this rather lively event, Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura introduced recent footage and developments, composer Yoko Shimomura gave a piano performance, and voice actors shared video messages.

What follows is a report of this “Kingdom Hearts Premium Theater.” Please note that photographs are few, but words are aplenty.

Opening the event was a retrospective on the [Kingdom Hearts] series done through promotional videos for each title. Afterwards, Walt Disney Company Asia and Disney Interactive Asia’s senior vice president and general manager, Justin Scarpone, appeared on stage to share that the Kingdom Hearts series has shipped 21 million units worldwide and is one of the most successful games in Disney’s long history. “I hope you’ll enjoy to the very end this special experience meant just for Kingdom Hearts fans,” Scarpone said at the start of the event.

Following Scarpone, Kingdom Hearts series executive producer, Shinji Hashimoto, took the stage. Hashimoto expressed his gratitude for an event such as this that allows him to meet with fans directly. He also introduced the series’ smartphone application released in September, Kingdom Hearts: Unchainedχ[chi], and urged fans to give it a try. “Today, we will be able to share new information, so please look forward to it,” he said.

Piano performance by Yoko Shimomura and Hiroyuki Nakayama

First on the program for this event was a piano performance by Kingdom Hearts series composer Yoko Shimomura and pianist Hiroyuki Nakayama. Three songs––“Dearly Beloved,” “The Other Promise,” and “Musique pour la Tristesse de Xion”––were performed. Shimomura and Nakayama, each with their own pianos, played new arrangements in a piano duet form. Audience members listened quietly and attentively.Following the performance was a talk given by Shimomura and Nakayama. They first met during auditions for the Kingdom Hearts piano arrangement album [recording] and have known each other for a rather long time. The pair got along quite well during the talk. However, at their very first recording session that started at midnight and took 4 hours, Shimomura kept saying, “One more time,” and wouldn’t give the OK, “so I cried in the bathroom” (Nakayama). In the end, Nakayama persisted and lived up to Shimomura’s demands, and in reminiscence, “it was because of that trial that we have a day like today” (Nakayama). Music is an indispensable element of the Kingdom Hearts series, so let’s all look forward to what Shimomura and Nakayama will be doing next.

Director Tetsuya Nomura also appears

Following the piano performance were the eagerly awaited developments. Since this event was called a “Premium Theater,” information was revealed through footage. Series director Tetsuya Nomura appeared on stage and explained the content himself.

For PC browser game Kingdom Hearts χ[chi], Beast Castle [appeared] as a new world beginning November 5. For the smartphone application Kingdom Hearts Unchainedχ[chi], beginning at 6:00pm on November 3, a new event called “Coordinate with Mickey" began]. In addition, those who [have been logging in] from November 4 at 4:00am and on, have each received a “King Mickey KHII Ver (★5)” medal.

New information on Kingdom Hearts 2.8 and Kingdom Hearts III revealed

The next segment was the presentation of the latest Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue PV. “I met Aqua in the Realm of Darkness” (King Mickey); “Someone has the complete Book of Prophecies, and that person’s the traitor” (Mysterious Figure) and other dialogue followed in rapid succession and stirred up anticipation! Before the PV, a video message from Megumi Toyoguchi (voice of Aqua), Ryoutarou Okiayu (voice of Terra), and Kouki Uchiyama (voice of Ventus and Roxas) was shared. You can read their comments below.

Megumi Toyoguchi (Aqua)

I think the very first scene that I recorded as Aqua was the one together with Maleficient, and it was my first experience having a conversation with a Disney character. Disney character acting is “big” acting, so I remember that, at the beginning, the feeling of distance between the [Disney] character’s acting and me, and the difference in the scale of the acting, was a really tough game. But as you gradually continue, once you can create your character, you’ll know how much to “give,” and it becomes very fun to do.

One particularly memorable line is, when I said the final line as Aqua, “We’re connected” (English: “There’s always a way.”), I couldn’t really get it done right. I recorded it over and over so many times, and there must have been dozens of takes (bitter smile). I recorded so many times that I felt my heart was going to break into pieces, but at the very last moment, I got an OK, and I felt incredibly relieved. I’d never done so many takes, so that was memorable for me.

The Kingdom Hearts series are commonly played games, so I was very happy to have been able to take part in it. Prior to [Kingdom Hearts], I played Paine in FFX-2, but playing a character in Kingdom Hearts is different emotionally, so I was very happy about that. Actually, I’ve been playing [Birth by Sleep], but I haven’t finished Aqua’s story yet. Finishing it would bring sadness… even though I have gotten to the end. But, since there’s a sequel coming out, I think I can “beat the last boss.” That’s my mindset.

Within the 3 works is a new episode, and a new Kingdom Hearts is coming out, so I think you all are extremely excited about that, but I think I’m the one who’s most excited (laugh). I think I’m the very first to want to play it… should I play from the beginning, or should I play alongside Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep’s chronology? I haven’t begun recording (for KH 0.2 Bbs) yet, but I’m very excited to know how I’ll get to play Aqua, so I hope you all are excited as well.

Ryoutarou Okiayu (Terra)

I first performed in a promotional trailer, and after that, there wasn’t any news about recording lines for the actual title, so I thought, “So I didn’t get picked, huh?” I became quite anxious (laugh). Finally, I got to do the recording, and for the longest time it was just me alone… As you all well know, Terra goes on a journey to find Ven, but I couldn’t really meet Uchiyama-kun (voice of Ven) myself. The opportunity didn’t present itself, I suppose. When the time finally came, I thought, “Oh! So he’s Ven.” I put myself in Terra’s state of my mind and glanced at Uchiyama-kun (laugh).

For me, the most memorable line was saying to Mr. Chikao Ootsuka, “What did you do to his heart!?” That line was used in the trailer, right? That was a foreshadowing of what would happen in the game.

While recording, I thought about whether the story of these three people’s journey would continue after [Birth by Sleep]. When I was recording, I pictured the three of us being friends in the past, and at the time, I was able to fall into an illusion where I felt I was in a never-ending story.

To all of you KH fans, I think you’re waiting for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue that will be released next year. I hear that the Birth by Sleep team will be able to talk a little about what happens from [Birth by Sleep] and on, so I’d like you to be excited. “Terra, what happened to him?” “We want Aqua to break out of that place.” “I wonder what happened to Ven… I wonder where Uchiyama-kun went?” (laugh). Along those lines, right? Please look forward to the next title.

Kouki Uchiyama (Ventus & Roxas)

About Roxas, should I say [he’s] life-sized…. this character called Roxas cannot feel that the world he lives in is real, and he doubts whether this is the real world. At that time when I was a middle school student, somehow I also thought the same. It hit home for me, or, it was a very real feeling for me. I injected the thoughts I had at that time into my lines, and in that way, I remember [the recording] being rather easy.

For Ven, I brought out cheerfulness and the strength to invigorate others. I don’t have those traits. Normally, I’m more quiet. It felt like I was adding things on top of what I didn’t have.

I don’t usually get involved with a single work from a series that is this long. I was young back then, so when I would get involved with a project and thought, “Okay, I’ll do it,” it wasn’t really work, but…. it’s kind of hard to say, but I remember, when I went to the studio, I thought of it as going in to play around, and then I said my lines. During KHII, I recorded lines together with Roxas’s friends, Hayner, Pence, and Olette (their voice actors). It felt like going to school, and I felt excited going into the studio. Time’s passed since then, and once again I’m in the same series, but as a different character in a different title. I’ve played various roles, and made so many memories...call it a life in 1 work or something. The series will probably continue on, I think, and I’m excited how I’ll be able to stay involved. I don’t want [my part] to end just yet.

The series will probably go on, huh. No one’s told me anything, so I’m looking forward to the future as all of you are. I ask for your continued support in the KH series.

“Making of Kingdom Hearts III” also shown

Following on the heels of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue were the latest developments on Kingdom Hearts III. This segment also began with video messages from voice actors.

Miyu Irino (Sora)

In these last dozen years or so, there have been parts where Sora and I have grown together, and parts where Sora and I have grown in different places. I wonder if these parts that have changed, together with the parts that haven’t, are how Sora has changed in the span of 15 years.

I’ve worked on the Kingdom Hearts series together with Mamoru Miyano, who plays Riku, and Risa Uchida, who plays Kairi, since we were all teens, and I can feel our incredibly strong bond, as if they’re really my childhood friends.

Before I was involved with Kingdom Hearts, I had a general sense of Disney’s Donald and Goofy, but now, when I see them at Disneyland or in movies, I feel something different in these characters. Like, they’re my friends. I feel really proud.

I really like the story of Roxas’s existence, and the scene in the second half of II where he and Sora melt together has left a great impression on me. I feel a closeness to him as well.

One memorable thing was singing “Under the Sea” in the Little Mermaid world. I was really happy that I didn’t sing it as karaoke, but rather, as my own song.The memories of doing recording as a middle school student are linked with the memories of my middle school days, and I feel that [Kingdom Hearts] is a special work. Also, when I go abroad, people know me as doing voice acting for Kingdom Hearts, and I can sense the globalness even more.There are more works coming for Kingdom Hearts, and there are plenty of works already available to look back on. I hope you’ll enjoy those until the sequel is here.

Risa Uchida (Kairi)

In the world of Kingdom Hearts, Kairi is light. I’ve performed my role with this in mind, but how to capture this light is different between now and before. To continue to stay in the light, one must be incredibly strong; I had felt that when I became an adult. Kairi, who has been able to stay in the light, is a wonderful child, and there are so many things I can learn from her.

Xion didn’t have a sense of self at the beginning, and gradually she was able to think for herself… representing this course of change was especially difficult. The anxiety of, “I’m just a nobody, aren’t I? I’m just a tool,” is something that I think everyone feels at one point, so I don’t think Xion is unusual in this regard. I thought it’d be great if I could embrace loneliness, anxiety and perform my role…. in the end, I felt quite sad, after all.

Sora is a beloved person who goes beyond romantic love and friendship. To Sora, Kairi is [his] light, but I think to Kairi, Sora is also her light. Kairi views Riku differently from Sora; I think she sees [Riku] as more of a big brother. In II, when Kairi grows into a person who can wield her Keyblade and fight, I can’t help but think that it must be because she’s watched Riku from behind. They cherish one another, and the three who are growing together are extremely special and amazing. I admire them very much.

When I accepted the audition, I had done a lot of stage work and thought that voice acting wasn’t my skill, so I wasn’t sure if I should challenge myself and try out. I had all this anxiety, but I received the script and fell in love with the world of Kingdom Hearts. I really wanted to enter into this world no matter what, and my passion grew. I thought, “Being able to be a part of this world is a once-in-a-lifetime and thrilling chance.” I want to keep growing more and more together with Kairi, so I want to thank you for your continued support.

Mamoru Miyano (Riku)

The Riku in Kingdom Hearts up until now has had to fight a long battle against the darkness within him. He’s atoned for it, and he’s mustered up the courage to fight against it. Growing into light’s existence has been his salvation, I think. The reality of overcoming this experience and fighting with his Keyblade in hand has been a big change, so I wanted to perform my role with all of that in mind.

There aren’t many jobs that I can participate in that have spanned as long as Kingdom Hearts has. [Kingdom Hearts] is a work that’s been with me every step in my entire acting life, so Riku’s existence is special. He’s growing, and I think I’ve also been growing a little bit, too. There’s a lot of deep emotion in [Riku’s] transformation.

To Riku, Sora is forever radiant, and his admiration for Sora has never changed. It’s been said that, because of Kairi, Riku was able to connect with Sora, so [Sora] is a special existence, isn’t he?

The time that I received the Kingdom Hearts role was around the same time that I began my voice acting career. I was young, but being able to act alongside my senior, Miyu Irino-kun, inside the studio was fun. I learned a lot, and that time was invaluable. This is my own whimsical thought, but I think Irino-kun and I are connected by a strong bond, like Sora and Riku are.

I want to cherish the Kingdom Hearts series together with all of you, and I ask for your continued support from here on out.

For the latest Kingdom Hearts III footage, an event-exclusive movie was revealed, featuring the full version of the conversation between two people playing what looks like a chess match (the one that begins with “Have you heard of the Ancient Keyblade War?”). Both seem to know something, but they do not utter it. They are friends, but they also appear to be rivals… their relationship is quite palpable.

In the action footage, new Heartless, a Nobody wielding a sickle, and a scene where [Sora] unleashes a Birth By Sleep shotlock-like attack from an attraction flow (a special technique that can be triggered under certain conditions), among other things, were present. New battle scenes were packed with action.

Tetsuya Nomura once again took to the stage and presented another event-exclusive PV, a rare movie of the making of Kingdom Hearts. “During development, we proceed by working on each world, and we’re moving into worlds that we cannot, at this moment, show you. I can’t present any new worlds today, so in place of that, I’ve brought some in-production footage that we normally do not make public” (Nomura).

90% of Kingdom Hearts development is done at the Osaka Studio, and 10% done in Tokyo. The contents revealed in today’s footage are from the Tokyo Studio. In this PV, we saw once again the figure of the Nobody wielding the sickle from the latest trailer. “This is the Nobody that was also in the new KHIII trailer. As to what this Nobody is, I’m sure there are fans who are aware” (Nomura). Is this connected to Marluxia!?

Other things were also introduced in this PV, such as a new location in Olympus, the heaven map; and development footage of Aqua being controlled on KH 0.2 BbS’s map. Effects have been made more splendid and lighting processing has been increased, making the appearance even richer.

“Kingdom Hearts III will have attraction flows and weapon transformations, and party member coordination is being strengthened, so I hope you’ll look forward to these” (Nomura).

King Mickey appears!

Just as we were taking in all of these updates, there was another special movie! This footage featured King Mickey and his activities from titles to date. Once the movie had ended, the King himself appeared on stage! The audience cheered as King Mickey came to the scene! King Mickey, along with Tetsuya Nomura and Yoko Shimomura, left their seats and began to interact with fans. There were curtains and all, and the auditorium turned into an uproar.

There was much excitement accompanying King Mickey as he made his departure. Hashimoto made his appearance once again and said to the audience, “It is thanks to you, the fans, that [Kingdom Hearts] has been able to continue for 13 years after its release. We’ll be doing our best from here on out, so we appreciate your continued support.” The event concluded with thunderous applause from the fans.

What did you think about what the voice actors had to say? Let us know in the comments!

In an interview with Dengeki Online, Tetsuya Nomura, the director of the Kingdom Hearts series, has shared more details about the opening scene of the Kingdom Hearts III E3 2015 trailer with Young Xehanort and Young Eraqus. Nomura explained that their conversation helps connect to the story of Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ. He also explained that their conversation is much longer in the full scene, but that this small part was extracted for the trailer.

That is called the ‘Attraction Flow,’ and it’s one of the featured elements of the game. After meeting certain requirements, you’ll get the option to activate it, and as far as visuals go, it’s pretty elaborate. As a matter of fact, the UI shown in the trailer is a temporary one, and once you actually get to use the Attraction Flow, it will also change the UI while active.

Also, as far as ledges, elevation differences, and slopes go, Sora’s actions will automatically change as part of the introduction of the “Free Run” feature, which will give it a more dynamic sense of action

[About the conversation between Eraqus and Xehanort]

Yes, that is [the opening scene for Kingdom Hearts III]. The game will start with the conversation between the two,” says Nomura. “It’s actually a much longer conversation scene, but we’ve extracted that part to show in the trailer. As you may have noticed from seeing them, it’s a scene that takes place a very long time ago, and that’s where the story of Kingdom Hearts Unchained X[chi] connects [with the game].